Brad Gushue and his Newfoundland and Labrador rink clinched third place and a place in the playoffs with an 8-3 win over Saskatchewan Thursday night at the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian men's curling championship.
The win by Gushue and his Bally Haly rink of Mark Nichols, Ryan Fry and Jamie Korab gave them an 8-3 record and a place in tonight's (9:30 p.m. NT, TSN) third-versus-four playoff game. But at The Telegram's Thursday night press deadline, Gushue and Co. were still waiting to find out who their opponent in tonight's game might be. They might not know until this afternoon, depending on whether a tiebreaker is necessary.
Jeff Stoughton's Manitoba rink, which defeated the Newfoundlanders 8-3 Thursday morning, finished its round-robin schedule with a 7-5 victory over Saskatchewan. That gave the Manitobans a 7-4 record and guaranteed them at least a tie-breaker berth.
Quebec headed into Thursday's late draw with 6-4 records and needing a win over Northern Ontario to get to a tie-breaker today against Stoughton. If Jean-Michel Menard's rink lost, Manitoba would advance directly to the playoffs and take on Newfoundland in the third-versus-four game 1:30 p.m. (NT) on Saturday.
If a tiebreaker is required, it will be played t4:30 p.m. today, Newfoundland time.
The result of the Quebec-Northern Ontario game was not available at the Telegram's press deadline.
Alberta's Kevin Martin rolled to his 11th straight win Thursday night and in the process set a record for consecutive wins at the Canadian men's curling championship.
Martin's 7-5 victory over Glenn Howard of Ontario was his 24th consecutive win over the past two championships, surpassing his old nemesis, Randy Ferbey of Edmonton.
Alberta and Ontario headed into the game having already guaranteed themselves the top two playoff spots and knowing they would face each other in the one-versus-two playoff tonight.
Martin will have the hammer in that game, which will be held 9:30 p.m. today (NT). The winner of the one-versus-two game advances directly to Sunday's championship game. The loser will take on the winner of the three-versus-four matchup on Saturday night. The three-versus-four loser is eliminated.
The teams guaranteed or hunting for playoff berths Thursday night represent a who's who of Canadian curling. Glenn Howard, Martin, Stoughton and Menard of Quebec have all skipped Brier winners. So has New Brunswick's Russ Howard, who lost a chance to get to a tie-breaker with a 5-4 loss to British Columbia Thursday night.
Gushue is the defending Olympic men's champion.
Gushue rink secures third place
Newfoundland and Labrador skip Brad Gushue releases a stone as third Mark Nichols (left) and lead Jamie Korab get ready to sweep in their game against Manitoba during the morning draw of the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary. Photo by The Canadian Press
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Published on
March 13, 2009
- Published on June 30, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
CURLING/TIM HORTONS BRIER Newfoundland and Labrador finishes with 8-3 record, advances to playoff game
Brad Gushue and his Newfoundland and Labrador rink clinched third place and a place in the playoffs with an 8-3 win over Saskatchewan Thursday night at the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian men's curling championship.
The win by Gushue and his Bally Haly rink of Mark Nichols, Ryan Fry and Jamie Korab gave them an 8-3 record and a place in tonight's (9:30 p.m. NT, TSN) third-versus-four playoff game. But at The Telegram's Thursday night press deadline, Gushue and Co. were still waiting to find out who their opponent in tonight's game might be. They might not know until this afternoon, depending on whether a tiebreaker is necessary.
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